Chayton Read Free Page A

person? Had she been totally mistaken? Then why had he crept through the suite and how had he known just where to find her?
    “How are you going to prove it?”
    “Have you ever heard of Luxe Resorts?”
    She scoffed and nearly announced she was a member. The exclusive Resorts, spanning the globe, were one of her favorite getaways. “Of course I've heard of them. Everyone on God's green earth has.”
    His mouth tipped into a tight smile. “Who owns and operates them?”
    “Are you ever going to get to the point?” she asked with no small amount of irritation.
    “Just answer the question.”
    “The Black family.”
    “That's right. Will you hold still for a moment if I release you?”
    “Yes.” Kate would do anything to put some space between them.
    He hesitated, searching her eyes again. Then he released her hands but didn't move his body. Reaching into a back pocket, he withdrew a leather wallet and produced a Montana driver's license with his picture clearly on the front. Along with his name.
    Chayton Black.
    “You don't expect me to believe you're related to the Black family that owns the Luxe Resorts, do you?” Being a member, Kate thought she recalled literature somewhere that had Chayton's name on it. A niggling feeling remained, even after he slid the identification away and re-pocketed the wallet. Perhaps she'd heard it in the elite circles she frequented right up until her untimely disappearance from society.
    “We can even look it up on the internet. Yes, I'm one of the heirs to the empire. Which means you should realize that I can't be whoever you think I am, and if I step away, you won't take a swing or stab me with your mascara wand.”
    “That's brilliant. Provoke me while I'm angry, and there's no telling what I might do.” Bristling from the entire confrontation, Kate stared at Chayton, tempted to push against his chest with her hands. He stood somewhere just over six-feet, and though lean, seemed immovable unless he wanted to move.
    “Like an annoyed little badger, hm? Are you going to grace me with your name in return, or are you going to force me to backtrack using Anton Bertini?” he asked.
    “You wouldn't dare.” Kate didn't want him doing any such thing.
    “Not only would I dare, I plan on it. Save us both the time and energy.”
    “My name, obviously, is Penelope.” She flicked the name tag on the uniform.
    “Penelope what?”
    Unprepared to come up with a last name, she floundered. Then said, “Penelope Smith.”
    “Mhm.” Chayton didn't sound like he believed her. At all.
    “Listen, Mister...Black. We've established who you are. Being an upstanding member of society, you must realize that you can't hold me here against my will. That's kidnapping. And if that got into the news, it wouldn't be--”
    “Before your little threats go too far, know this. I can and will hold you as long as I deem necessary. You've convinced me of nothing useful, and I'm not entirely sure you aren't a member of the trafficking ring I've been hunting. Your evasive tactics aren't exactly inspiring, if you know what I mean.”
    She gasped. A member of a trafficking ring? Did he mean human trafficking, or drug trafficking? Did it matter? Both were equally awful. “That's absurd.”
    “Not really. You wouldn't believe what people would stoop to in order to get out of a tough situation. Tell me who you really are, and what's going on, and perhaps I'll reconsider.”
    “You have no right--”
    “I have every right. You were hiding in my room, remember? You attacked me--”
    “With a hanger!”
    “...and I'm sure the police would be very interested to ask you the same questions I'm asking.”
    Kate couldn't believe the nerve of the man. Threatening her with jail. Yet he had a point; if he called security, they would discover she'd stolen the maid's uniform and that she wasn't who she said she was. She'd broken into Chayton's room and although a hanger couldn't be considered a serious weapon by any